nd? Nor they ain't goin' to hurt us neither;
I'll see to that. Borden, you and Yorke go up and lay that engineer in
irons in the forehold. Birch, get hold o' Dailey and take a gun to them
Kanakas till they agree to go down. This here is business, and I'm boss.
So step lively."

The men obeyed quickly, for Jerry's gentle face was transformed into
furious energy. The two boys, however, leaped forward with an angry cry
as the meaning of his orders broke on them.

"See here," exclaimed Mart, taking the old man by the shoulder and
whirling him around to face them. "What's this mean anyhow?"

"You're crazy with the heat, Jerry," added Bob angrily. "This isn't any
pirate--"

Jerry, with unexpected strength, put a hand on each of their chests and
flung them back with seeming ease. When they recovered, his blue eyes
were blazing and a revolver showed in his hand.

"Now, lads," he said in his soft, penetrating voice, "I like you, I do,
and I'm takin' care o' you. You heard what old Borden said, eh? 'Let 'em
go down to the wreck,' he said, lads, but not me. No, old Jerry likes
you, an' you ain't a-goin' to be hurt."

"Why--why, blame it all, what do you mean?" gasped Mart.

"He's puttin' up a joke on us, Mart," grinned Bob. Jerry chuckled.

"Joke, eh? Look ye here, lads. Up back at the village yonder, the cap'n
and Joe Swanson is took care of in a hut. They're safe enough, but
they're took care of. That's why I went ashore first, to see my friends.
This here yacht belongs to me, lads, until we get up the treasure out o'
the wreck. Then me and the rest, we'll be off all shipshape and Bristol
fashion, we will, and no one won't be hurt. Understand that, lads?"

Mart stared. But there was no denying the earnestness of the old man.
Then over both boys flashed the whole thing--the three old men plotting
at Waikiki, the different snatches of talk they had heard, everything
that pointed to the same end. Jerry and his comrades had seized the
_Seamew_.

"You mean you're a gang of pirates?" asked Bob, paralyzed with
astonishment.

"That's it, lads," chuckled Jerry calmly. "You ain't to be hurt so
long's you keep quiet, lads. Pirates it is--the fish down below and us
up here above, lads. But when we've got the treasure out o' the wreck,
we'll set the cap'n free and leave you wi' the ship. Fish tell no tales,
lads--fish tell no tales!"

And with that Jerry turned and ascended the companion, revolver in hand.

CHAPTER XII